Author: Ki McGraw

I taught one of my clients yesterday a practice I learned from Sufism. In doing so, she learned to time her breath rhythm with her heartbeat. That profound somatic activity changed her life.

Sufis say “spirit rides the wind“ meaning the Spirit of Guidance enters us through the breath. Companioning the breath with the heart rhythm brings that guidance into the materializing plane. Through a repeated practices our heart and breath become synchronized into a profound team.

Can you let your heartbeat partner your breath? Can you experiment with timing your breath to your heart beat? Ki to Happiness times her breath with her heart beat and her heart beat with her breath.

In a lovely session with a new client, she indicated that she had learned all she knows from her trips to Hell and back again. I let her know that is an apt description of where my skill set comes from, also. In that way we are joined and have developed deep rapport.

The many challenges that occur for us along our chosen path of growth and development give ample motivation for evolution. I know far more about wrists, having spent the last three months healing from breaking mine, for instance. In this learning lab of life, we are all given lessons which we can convert into bleasing s as we return from the hell of hard knocks.

What kind of hell have you been through? How did you make it back? Ki to Happiness shares the many blessings from hard lessons with students and clients.

The spring forward shift has taken effect. The cats and I got up on schedule an hour earlier after an earlier night. We all took our positions for morning practice.

Free from pain, I sit in my meditation position, and focus on my breath and alignment. I open to guidance and receive several directions about tuning up today’s calendar. In the dark, with the wind blowing our outdoor lights into our windows, the rain descends like the Guidance carried on the wind of Spirit.

Have you gotten on schedule yet? What Guidance do you receive during your spiritual practice? Ki to Happiness acts on the Guidance received.

Bob suggested we watch the Oscars last night. Amid the opulence, the costumes, and the celebrities. I appreciated the tributes to those who’ve left this Earthly stage. The clip with Ryan O’Neal made me cry as I heard him speak those words of Love Story emblazoned into my young memory, “ Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

Removing the unconscious conditioning of that statement, I replaced it with a more truthful statement. Love means saying you’re sorry, and changing your behavior in the direction of loving correction. Perhaps then there would be fewer tears all around.

How willing are you to apologize? With love in your heart, after apologizing, are you able to change in the direction that love points the way toward? Ki to Happiness loves and apologizes and makes changes as necessary towards whatever Love reveals.

As we set the clocks ahead by one hour, we do so during the new moon. Often this can be a time requiring great adjustment. The new moon takes the energy of today and broadcasts it forward through the next month during which we shift into astronomical spring, effecting the next season.

Preparing in advance for this meant going to bed early with everything ready for today. In this way, the intentions we set are able to be free from stress, irritation, or angst. Still, we know it will take four days for our circadian rhythms to adapt to the time change.

Did you prepare for the time change? Can you give yourself four days of grace as you adapt to it? Ki to Happiness springs forward with clear intentions for a lovely month.

My yoga practice continues to demonstrate increase in my strength and flexibility as I heal from my wrist injury. A couple of tiny steps forward in that direction yesterday brings me great joy. I share that joy with you, dear reader, to encourage you along your healing path.

In speaking with a lifelong girlfriend yesterday, I called on that strength and flexibility, in order to heal from some old junior high issues. After all these years, I learned that one of the most popular girls of those days felt just like I did then. Changing my perspective on her required flexibility, as well as strength to hold my center in light of the revelation.

How strong is your center? How flexible is your perspective? Ki to Happiness heals into greater strength and flexibility in body and mind with yoga.

Yesterday as my husband and I were walking along, gratitude upwelled in my heart. It turned into tears streaming down my cheeks. I shared with him what I felt for our journey of 27 years.

The first thing he ever asked me to do with him, was to take a walk. All these years later, it’s the same walk. Sometimes side-by-side, sometimes talking, rarely holding hands, we walk. He is on his path at his pace, and I’m over here on my path at my pace.

Who works with you? Can you express your gratitude for sharing a part of your life’s journey with them? Ki to Happiness walks her talk.

Last night several students returned who haven’t been attending lately. They also were dealing with injuries. As we reunited, we celebrated that we were healing together, even as we were apart.

They brought me gifts which grace my altar this morning. These tokens of appreciation and affection I offer to the Great Spirit that connects us. All three of our cats joined me in morning practice to sniff the offerings, giving their blessings in this quiet celebration.

How is your healing journey? Are you aware that others are also healing with you? Ki to Happiness revels in knowing no one heals alone.

My wrist has healed to the extent that I am able to do a posture that had been beyond me for these 11weeks. Raja Kapotanasana with full shoulder rotation requires strength and flexibility in the wrist, as well as many other physical abilities. I celebrate this milestone in my healing journey as a breakthrough.

I shared with my 530 class, that I know it’s not mandatory to be able to do that particular posture in order to be the love that I essentially am. Even so, my students recognized the breakthrough after my wrist’s breakdown as evidence of slow, steady healing. Through the grace of yoga, with patient and persistent effort the love we are prevails.

What in you is breaking down? How patient and persistent can you be in order to allow breakthrough to occur? Ki to Happiness practices yoga to align with the essential love we are through all of life’s breakdowns, awaiting the breakthroughs that may come.

Yesterday’s blog brought up a surprise comment. Receiving the gratitude expressed by one from long ago gladdens my heart. Sometimes those of us who express ourselves in this medium can wonder if there is any effect so I’m rewarded by finding out.

I want to encourage you readers to interact here and to create your own material. Every comment has always been well received. Your own creative offering may inspire others in surprising ways.

What would you like to express here? What other platform or outlet might you use to inspire others? Ki to Happiness extends her love and gratitude for each of you.